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Council discusses traffic-signal study and interim measures for Lewis Street and 20 Arpitt Road intersection
Summary
Councilors asked staff to gather crash data, pursue grant funding and consider short-term measures (no-left-turn devices or plastic channelizers) after a councilor reported about 10 crashes at Lewis Street and 20 Arpitt Road from 2022–2025 and expressed concern about left-turn collisions.
Councilor David Merrill led a discussion asking the City of New Iberia to study safety at the intersection of South Lewis Street and 20 Arpitt Road and consider installing a traffic signal or other measures to reduce crashes as nearby development increases.
Merrill said he has received multiple constituent requests about difficulty turning from stop signs at the intersection and cited a police summary prepared by Captain Leland showing roughly 10 crashes from 2022–2025, many involving left turns. Council members and staff discussed the history of prior requests to the state Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) and noted the city controls the particular segment under discussion.
Council members asked staff to collect data on several high‑concern intersections across the city rather than single out only one location. Mayor Pro Tem and other council members suggested bundling multiple sites for a single feasibility study or grant application to improve the chances of funding. Council members specifically named Darby Lane, Jefferson Terrace and other intersections as candidates for study as well.
Operational options discussed included: - Pursuing grant funding and hiring a traffic engineer (council mentioned prior work by traffic engineer Dean Teagle) to evaluate feasibility and produce cost estimates for multiple intersections. - Considering interim, low-cost countermeasures such as no-left-turn treatments (plastic channelizers or raised delineators) or restriping and signage while pursuing longer-term solutions. - Collecting crash and sight-line data and coordinating with police for enforcement if needed.
Council asked staff to gather intersection lists and costs and to pursue grant opportunities; the mayor said he would speak with the city’s grant contact (identified as Jane) to look for funding sources. Councilors asked for cost estimates from an engineer to support grant applications and to allow the council to prioritize several candidate intersections as a package.
